Method of and means for making sheet glass



1920 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 G. W. HOLSINGER METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR MAKING SHEET GLASS Filed March 8 j a .l

March A4, 1924.-

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l G. W. HOLSINGER l METHOD oF AND MEANS FOR MAKING SHEET GLAss 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 8 51A-mmm: /www,

March 4.,. 1924. 1,485,928

G. w. HOLSINGER METHOD oF .AND MEANS FOR `MAKING SHEET VGLASS l. llllll '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 W ALW-p11?" Filed March 8.

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March 4., 1924.- 1,485,928

G. W. HOLSINGER METHOD OF AND MANS FOR MAKING SHEET GLASS Filed March a. 1920 7 sheets-sheet 4` March 4, 1924.`

. G. W. HOLSINGER METHOD 0F AND MEANS FOR MAKING SHEET M11-Ass Filed March a'. 1920- '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 4., 1924; y 1,485,928

G. w. HoLslN'Gl-:R

4METHOD `OF AND MEANS FOR MAKING SHEET GLASS Filed March s. 1920 7 sheets-sheet e WITNESSES G. w. HoLslNGER v METHOD 0F AND MEANS FR MAKING SHEET GLASS March 4 1924.- 1,485,928

Filed March 8. 1920 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Patented Mar. 4; 1924..

innrroner Ann reserveren' nrn'iine'snnn'renass Application' filed March' 8,

To UZZ whom t may concern Beit known that I, GEORGE'V. HoLsIN- can,k a citizen of the'United` States, residingV at Vincennes, inthe county of Knox and 5 State of" Indiana,k have invented a new and useful Method of and Means for Making Sheet Glass, of which the following is a specification, reference being had'tofthe'aecompanying drawings and to `the letters and iigures'of referencemarked thereon.y A

rIhis invention relates to the yproductionof sheet glass, both flatV and curvedforms; par# tieularly by drawing' the glass upwardfrom amolt'en mass of glass, the -invention having l5 reference especially to theY method' of and n'xeans for making a plurality of sheets of glass from -one ydrawing operation.

An object of the invention is toiprovide' amethod of and means for making sheet'4 glasswhiclr shall be of superiorstructure'- and which shall espeeially'be freefroniinr' perfeetions inlthe body and thesuifaces of the glass, and yet not be'costly to producef Anotherobject' isto provide a method of' drawing glass so'that it' shall be free fromvl faults hitherto causedby particles-of scum` orforeign substance becoming incorporated inthe`drawn glass'.` l

A* further object' isr to" provide means wherebyl to preventl particles of scum or foreignl substancev frombeing incorporated inthe body 'of glass while being'l drawn from: a reservoir.

A'- still further object'z is to provide a method'ofl and means for' making sheet glass inexpensively and more perfectly than hitherto, and so that the' glass shall be ofthe most perfect quality'andtransparencyv and which also shall be strong and durable so" as to be' economical inu'se, which'means of pro'v duction shallbe simple and-easily operated andl without requiring highly skilled oper-y atorsV or attendants.

lVith the"above-mentionedl and other" ob-V jectsA inview, the invention consists in im"A proved means for drawing glass in tubular form and for advantageously handling the drawn glass throughtheprocessl of anneal# ing the glass and converting'zthe tubular form into glass sheets; and, the" invention consists alsol in an improved methodf of drawing and manipulating the drawn glass until iinished glass sheets arev producedi And, the invention consists alsofurtlier' in the parts and combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter particularly ieee? sei-iai No: assess;

described and further defined'A the appended claims. p

Referring'to tliedrawings,-Figure 1 is a topl plan ofthe principal structure embraced in the-invention; partsof which are broken away in the interest ofAv clearness; Fig. 2 is a front elevation partially broken away showing more partic-ularly'the princii features ofthe^invention;'Fig." Sis a 65 side elevation partially broken'away showingA the principal vfeat'u res of the invention Figi l-` is 'fragmentary section on thel line .FV-IV infFig; lfwithparts differently adjusted; Fig. 5 is a top plan of the'former 70 and thebait embracedlin the invention Fig.

is aninverted planlofthetformer and the bait'; Fig. 7 is a'fragmentary section 0n the line VlI-VII in-l Fig. 2' on an enlarged scale; Fig; S'is'a'top'pla'n ofv a clarifier or 75 skimmer device' to prevent dross or impurities from' becoming incorporated in the glass when being'dra'wn; Fig:v 9'is aside elevation of the apparatus partially broken' away, whereby to handle' the glass' while@ being' tempered and also for handlingl the glass `and arranging it; to 'be`cut into sheets; Fig. lOis'a c'entralsectionof aVv drawn glass tube A arrsurged `in connection with `appliances to facilitate-the cutting of'` the glass;` into 85 sheets; Fig. 11 is a top plan of a" movable table shown inthe preceding figure toreceive the sheet of'glass when eut from the glass' tube; Fig. 12 is' a fragmentary top plan ofV the glass tube and its carrying bait'to'g'ether 90 with the truck for handling the glass tube;f and,k Fig.' 13 is an endfelevationof thee-movableV table'.

Similar reference characters in the" dif'-A ferentl figuresY of the drawings indicateco'r-y 95 responding elements'or features 'of consti'u'f'z-k tion herein referred' to "in detail.

In the drawings thenumeral'l indicatesl a melting furnace or similar structure' in-v whichf the molten glass is, produced from sandand other suitable substances, as is well known; an open-top reservoir or annex 2 extending from the furnace to' receive the i' molten glass which is drawn upward'fr'oni' the reservoir as required. A" suitable der'rick 105 or framev is erected on or adjacent to the' reservoir and comprises two vertical braced guides 3 and l spacedapart andsuppo'rting a shaft 5 adjacent to their tops. At' a suitable distance from the tops ofthe guides two llo frame beams 6 and'7 are secured thereto,l the beams extending to and being secured to end legs or posts 8 and 9 respectively. A cross-bar 1G is secured to the beams and the legs and another cross-bar 11 is secured to the beams at a suitable distance from the vertical guides, the cross-bars supporting platform sections or ruiming boards 12 and 13. il traclr rail 14 is horizontally suspended under the middle portions of the cross-bars by means of hangers 15. Another track rail 16 is arranged above the rail 14 and so as to be higher than the platform sections and is supported at one end by means of legs 17 and 18 and at the opposite end bysimilar legs 19 and 20. The track rails are designed and arranged for the advantageous handling of the product of the apparatus.

A novel bait is provided which comprises a curved body portion 21 of suitable plan contour, Vthe under side of the body portion being concave. When shaped for producing two flat sheets and two curved sheets of glass the bait has two straight side edges 22 and 23 and curved end edges 24 and 25, the body portion having a central opening 26 at the sides of which is an upright wall 27 on which is a central top portion 28, so as to form a clear air space under the bait and a strong central portion conveniently reinforcing the middle portion of the bait. The middley portion of the top 28 has a vertical stem 29 thereon which has laterally extending lugs 30 and 31 thereon, the lugs preferably extending longitudinally of the bait. Adjacent to the ends of the bait the top 28 has air-inlet apertures 32 and 33 thereon and tubes 34 and 35 forming connection with the apertures respectively. The upper ends of the tubes have ball-joint or conical joint portions 36 and 37 respectively; and one tube has transversely extending lugs 38 and 39, the remaining tube having similar lugs 40 and 41 thereon whereby to lift the bait when drawing glass from the reservoir.

A suitable head frame is provided and preferably comprises a top beam 42 and a bottom beam 43, the beams preferably being built up of bar metal and provided with truss-braces 44. The top beam is provided with guide rollers 45 and 46 arranged to operate on the vertical guides 3 and 4 respectively, and the bottom beam has similar rollers 47 and 43 to also operate on said guides respectively. rlwo vertical pipes 49 and 50 are secured to the head frame so as to be in alinement with the tubes 34 and 35 respectively, and are connected to a distributing pipe 51 having an inlet 52.- The lower ends of the pipes 49 and 50 have joint sockets 53 and 54 adapted to be removably connected with the joint members 36 and 37 respectively. The pipes 49 and 50 are provided also with pivots 55 and 56 respectively, one pivot having hook lugs 57, 57',

thereon to engage the lugs on the tube 34,

lessees the other pivot having hook lugs 58 thereon adapted to be connected with the lugs on the tube 35, to secure the pipes to the tubes and permit air to be conducted therethrough. rlhe distributing pipe 51 may be variously supplied with air or suitable gas under corn- Y pression. The head frame has two transverse members 59 and 60 which are secured to the top beam thereof and a lifting bail or loop 61 is connected thereto and to a lifting cable 62 which extends over a pulley or sheave 63 mounted on the shaft 5. The cable may be operated by any suitable means desired. The transverse frame member 59 has vertical guides 64 and 65 and the member 6() has similar guides 66v and V67.

An improved former is provided which is adapted to co-operate withr the bait, to form and drawrthe glass, and comprises a curved body portion 68 having a concave under portion conforming approximately to the curved body and particularly the convex top portion of the bait, the body portion of the former having a central aperture 69 to receive the middle portion of the bait. rlhe body portion of the former is slightly broader and longer than the bait and is provided with a downward extending flange having two straight side portions 70 and 71 and curved end portions 72 and 73 that are connected by a ledge or shoulder portion 7 4 with the body portion 68. To control'and guide the former, the bodyportion thereof has rods 75 and 76 thereon that extend through the guides 64 and 65, and similar rods 7 7 and 78 that extend through the guides 66 and 67, respectively; and coil springs 79 and 80 are arranged on two of the rods under compression between the guides 64 and 65 respectively and the body portion of the former, and two similar springs 81 and 82 are likewise arranged on the remaining two rods respectively, to press the former downward upon the bait. rlhe upper end of each controlling rod has a lateral lug 83 thereon. rllwo stands 84 and S5 are secured upon the transverse members 59 and 60 respectively and rotatably support rotary shafts 86 and 87 respectively.

Two eccentrics 88 and 89 are secured lto oneVV of the rotary shafts and two similar eccentrics 90 and 91 are secured to the remaining one of the shafts, the eccentrics being arranged adjacent to the lugs of the controlling rods, and each eccentric has a lateral flange or rib 92, or 92', thereon that is adapted to engage the adjacent lug to raise or lower the former upon rotation of the rotary shafts which may be rotated by various means; simple devices as hand levers 93 and 94 being shown as secured to the shafts respectively. The shafts may be variously connected so as to be controlled in unison, as shown the shafts having cranks 95 and 96 to which a coupling rod 97 is connected; and. it willy beunderstoodzthat: the' tributing p'ipe- 51A issupplied with air or. gas througlra flexible hose 98 connectedv with the inlet 52 and withl any suitable source of supply desired.

In the reservoir 2 the molteniglass:` forms:

a flowing mass 99 infwhich-therc'may be-iinpurities and floating-pait-iclesoff scum-like substance andlit is im Jortaiit that sucli'impurities shall not becomev incorporated:intheA 'i glass plates; and in order to insuretpertect'v glass a novel clarifier' device is` provided which comprises a bottom 100 on which is a continuous wall 101, the bottom having a central aperture102 therein.

material thatv will'lioat in the molten' glass and permit the glass to How throughthe aperture to form a cleanv or skimmed body 103 oi' molten glass from which impurities` in the main mass are excluded'bythe wall 101. rlhe clarilier device may be' composed of moldedclay or of a suitable composition.`

When the bait is loweredinto the clean glass mass the molten glassr flows on to the convex top of the edge portions ofthe bait so as to form the shoulder portionluponwhich the body portion 68' of the former is forced, at'ter which compressed air orsuitable gas supplied with sufficient force toblow the semi-liquid glass out? against the flange of the former which determines the shape of the glass tube, and so-as to'cause theformaof the glass causes the walls of the tube toA be vertical and to have true surfaces. After the tube is cut ofiV from themass- 103 it is drawn upward a suitable distance and subsequently disconnected from the bait and former, as willbe further eXplained.

An arm 110 is provide l which has hangers 111 and 111 onv which rollers 112 and 113 are mounted and arranged to roll onl the track rail 14 to constitute a carrier having' extension members Mta-nd 114 to which a roller 115 is connected so as to have contact with the under side of the rail. Theend of tl arm 110 has a fork 11G to be brought into engagement with the under side of the lugs and 31 when the former has been The vclariier` device preferably is composed otV suitable lifted away from the-bait andthe top =of the.A glass tube.

Iniorderto be enabled to'complete the 11equired operationsa hanger 117. is provided whichvlia'sa roller 118 arranged to operate: upon. the traclr rail 16, andf the` hanger: is.i providedwith` tackle comprising-` arsheaver 119, a.: pulleyblock 120 and a1 cable-121-and a grapple 122 is connected to the pulleyblock and preferably has two hook armsadapted to control a. truck comprising; a flat platform frame 123fhaving a door 124;y thereon. Theupper portion of the truck frame has a strong-crossfbar 125 provided,

with an arm 126 wliiclrhas aforl 127 d esignedto -straddle the fork 118 and support the lugs 30 andf31 while the fork 118 is withdrawn. The lower portion ofl the truck frame is providedwith wheels 128 and 129. To permit the truck` ioor to bearranged at different angles or to be tilted, the track frame has a leg, frame 130 provided with wheels 131 and 132, on which the truck may be tilted or may be supportedat an inclination on all-the wheels. Preferably the truck platformhas side boards 133 andf1341. The cross-bar 125 may be engaged by the grapple to lift or to lower the truck with.- itsload.

For the purpose of enablingthe operator to quickly and safely cut a sheet of glass from the glass tube, a table is provided whereby to support the sheet or plate. The table maybe variously constructed as to details andipreferably is movable for convenience. A- preferred construction comprises a main frame 135 having wheels 136 and 137 at one end and similar wheels 138 and 139 at its opposite end. The main frame firmly supports a suitable stand 140 relatively closer to onethan the opposite end of the frame, the stand firmly. supporting at one. end a suitable table 141 which extends beyond the main frame and preferably has suitable braces 1112.-v

In practical use'the eccentricson the head frameareturned so'asto cause the former to be drawn upward from the bait which. is connected with the head frame as hereinbefore explained, after which the bait is lowered into theclean mass of molten glass in the clariier device. The-head framey is drawn upward by the operating cable 62 and after the bait is drawn upward a suitable distance the eccentrics are turned soy as to lower the former onto'the glass whichv the former and brought into engagement with the lugs and 3l to support the bait and the tube, after which the air-tubes on the-bait are disconnected from the air pipes and the head frame is further elevated to permit the carrier to carry the bait and the tube thereon over towards the farther end ofthe rail 14 and permit operation of the truck as illustrated in Fig. 9, the truclr being raised by means of the tackle so as to bring the fork 127 under the lugs 30 and 3l and to lift the lugs from the fork 116, thus transferring the bait and the tube to the truck which may then be lowered on the rear wheels of the truck by means of the tackle, somewhat as shown by broken lines in Fig. 9. Then the truck is lowered until the forward wheels are on the ground the trucl; may be tiltedand rolled to a suitable place where the table lill is entered into the'tube as shown in Fig. l0, after which the uppermost flat side of the tube may be cut from the end portion and the top shoulder portion of the tube and permitted to rest upon the table while being removed. Access may then be had to the lowermost side of the tube and it may be cut off from the curved end portions and the top shoulder portion of the tube and rest upon the truck while the end portions may be cut off from the shoulder portion and removed to be used as curved or bent sheets. lt will be understood that the former and the bait may have any desireddimensions to produce bent sheets of different degrees of curvature and' that in some cases the curved sheets may be reheated and bent more or less as may be required. Because of the shapes of the bait and the former as described above, the glass shoulder portion of the tube may shrink without causing the glass tube to crack and is easily separated therefrom.

During the time required for handling the tube the glass gradually becomes cool and annealed or tempered. Since nothing but the internal and external air comes in contact with the tube while being drawn and while the glass surface is becoming set, the surface when hard is free from blemishes and imperfections, and with proper precautions a wavy surface is prevented, the result of the operations according to the approved method being that glass sheets of high quality are inexpensively produced and without special finishing treatment.

Having ,thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- Y l. Glass-making apparatus including a bait to draw molten glass, and a former having a clamp portion to press the glass upon the bait and permit the glass to be expanded out beyond the bait, the clamp portion of the former having a flange to surround and extend down beyond the bait and limit theexpansion of the glass and determine the cross-section form thereof.

2. Glass-making apparatus including a Vbait to draw molten glass, a former having a clamp portion to press the glass upon the bait and permit the glass to be expanded out beyond the edge of the bait, the clamp portion having 'a flange to surround and extend down below the edge of the bait and limit the expansion of the glass to determine the cross-section form thereof, and a ring float having a plan form corresponding to the contour of the flange to co-operatetherewith in determining the cross-section contour of the drawn glass.

8. Glass-making apparatus including a bait comprising a curved body portion, the under side thereof being concave, the body portion having an upwardly odset central portion; two air-tubes fixed on the top of the offset central portion and provided with lugs to lift the bait, air-pipes to be connected to the air-tubes respectively; and a former comprising a curved body portion having a concave under side and having also a central aperture to receive the offset central portion of the bait, the body portion of the former having a flange thereon extending downward to surround the bait at a disance from the edge thereof.

4. Glass-making apparatus including a vertically movable head frame, two air-pipes secured to the head frame in spaced apart vertical arrangement, a former having controlling rods connected to the top thereof, the rods being guidedy on the frame for vertical movement, coiled springs arranged on the rods respectively and under compression between the former and the head frame, means on the head frame to support andadjust the controlling rods, a bait having airtubes thereon spaced apart to be connected to the air-pipes respectively, and means for removably securing the air-tubes in connection with the air-pipes.

5. Glass-making apparatus including a head frame guided for vertical movement, a former arranged below the head frame and provided with a plurality of controlling rods, synchronously-operated devices Vmounted on the head frame and having supporting and controllingconnections with the controlling rods, a bait to co-operate with the former and provided with lifting devices spaced apart on the top thereof, carrying devices secured to the head frame and extending downward therefrom to be connected to the lifting devices, means to lock the lifting devices detachably to the carrying devices, and a lug device centrally fixed upon the top of the bait to support the bait when the lifting` devices are disconnected from the carrying devices.

6. Glass-making apparatus including a pair of vertical guides, a head frame movably guided by the vertical guides and provided with a plurality of synchronously-operated adjusting devices to co-operate with the frame, a bait detachably connected to the bead frame to be carried thereby and provided with a device cen-trally on its top to carry the bait independently of the frame, and a former to co-operate with the baitand having a do-wnward-extending flange on its edge into the confines of which the bait may be received, the former being provided with controlling rods having guiding connection with the head frame and also operative connection with the adjusting devices enabling the devices to carry the former adjustably relatively to the bait.

7 Glass-making apparatus including a pair of vertical guides, a head frame movably guided by the vertical guides and baving eccentrics movably mounted thereon; a bait connected with the head frame to be carried thereby, a former to co-operate with the bait and having controlling rods thereon and guided on the head frame, the rods having lugs to contact with the eccentrics rcspectively to enable the eccentrics to raise or lower the former relatively to the bait, means for operating the eccentrics, and springs on the controlling rods respectively and seated under compression on the former and on portions of the head frame.

8. In means for making sheet glass, the combination of a vertically movable head frame having twoy air-pipes secured thereon, each air-pipe having a hook pivoted thereon, a bait having air-tubes thereon to be connected with the air-pipes and provided with lugs to be engaged by the hooks respectively, a former to co-operate with the bait, and means adjustably connecting the former with the head frame.

9. In means for making sheet glass, the

i combination of a vertically movable head frame having guides thereon, stands mounted upon the head frame, shafts rotatably mounted on the stands, eccentrics secured to the shafts and having each a lateral rib thereon, an operating device having connection with one of the shafts, coupling devices connecting the shafts for simultaneous operation thereof, a former having controlling rods guided by the guides on the head frame respectively, the rods having lugs engaging the ribs of the eccentrics respectively, and a bait to co-operate with the former in connection with the head frame.

10. In means for making sheet glass, the combination of a bait having a convexlycurved upper side and also two straight side edge portions and two curved end edge portions, the middle portion of the bait having a central opening therein and a wall extending about the opening, the wall having a top thereon provided with two apertures spaced apart and two tubes extending from the apertures, each tube having two lateral lugs thereon, a vertically guided head frame above the bait, two air-pipes secured to the head frame and adapted to be connected with the tubes respectively, each airpipe having pivoted hooks to engage the lugs on the adjacent tube, and a former adjustably mounted on the head frame and adapted to co-operate with the bait.

11. The method of making sheet glass consisting in drawing a flattened tube from a mass of molten glass through a hollow device having two straight opposite sides and floating in the mass of glass, in carrying the tube through the atmosphere, in transferring the tube flatwise to a holder to support the lower portion of the tube, in placing a flat supporting table horizontally in the tube, in cutting off the uppermost flat side of the tube, in removing the cut-off portion upon the table, and in cutting off the lowermost flat portion of the tube from the. remaining portions thereof on the holder.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. HOLSING-ER.

Witnesses:

FRANK BAsTIAN, J. S. WINCHELL. 

